Apparatus for loading and selectively unloading



Nov. 11, 1952 s. MSMITH 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLOADING Filed Aug. 20, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. ll, 1952 s. v. SMITH y APPARATUS' FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLoADING Filed Aug. 20, 1948 f7 SheetsfSheet 2 A 7' TORNFV Nov. l1, 1952 s. v. sMlTH 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY uNLoADING Filed Aug. 2o, v194e. 7 sheets-sheet s .ovvi/V701? 5. l/. SIM/7H A fr0 mfr Nov. 11, 1952 s. v. SMITH 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLOADING Filed Aug. 20, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Nov. l1, 1952 s. v. SMITHv 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLQADING Filed Aug. 20, 1948 '7 sheets-sheets "fr", 6T .3e

l l /l l /f//LM Nov. 11, 1952 V, SMITH 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLOADING Filed Aug. 20, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 WMM@ Nov. 11, 1952 s v, SMWH 2,617,527

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND SELECTIVELY UNLOADING A TTORNEY through the xture taken on the line |-I5 of Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 1'1 are plan sectional views through the fixture taken on the lines IS-IB and |1-|1, respectively, of Fig. 14 showing an article in operative position in each; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view through the ejector member.

This machine is designed to test condensers and/or networks by sequentially connecting them to electrical testing circuits for testing the Various electrical characteristics thereof, such as breakdown, capacity defects, network resistance defects, and insulation resistance, and to sort the condensers and/or networks according to their defects or non-defects. These condensers or networks are enclosed in rectangular metal containers or cans (Figs. 3 and 4), each of which is closed by a wall or closure 2S of insulating material apertured to accommodate the terminals 21 extending therethrough and connected to the condensers or networks and in some types of constructions to accommodate mounting studs 28. The metal containers 25 are of predetermined uniform length and width and their thickness varies according to the number of condensers and/ or networks contained therein. The number of terminals 21 varies, ranging from 2 to 4, and the arrangement thereof, likewise, varies, depending upon the number of condensers or networks in the container. For purposes of convenience in description, the condenser and network units and the container therefor will hereinafter be referred to as an article 29.

Generally, the apparatus comprises a continually rotating turret or table (Figs. 1 and 2) having a plurality of article holders 36 for receiving the articles 29 and carrying them through a predetermined circular path of less than one complete revolution. Each of the articles is slid manually from a stationary loading table 38 into the holders36 and into engagement with the end of a U-shaped ejecting plunger 39 stressed for movement outwardly by a spring 49 and guided for reciprocable movement in a vertically adjustable fixture 4I, which is rotatable with the turret 35. In this initial or inoperative position 43 of the article 29 in the holder 35 (Figs. 1, 6 and 9), the terminals 21 are spaced from-contact springs 46 stressed for vertical movement toward each other and spread apart in response to the outward or ejecting movement of the plunger 39 by a spreader cam 41 mounted thereon. As the article is carried along by the turret, it is engaged by a pusher mechanism 48 (Figs. 1, 6 and 10) and forced thereby radially inwardly to a second or operative position inthe holder. In moving inwardly, the article imparts a movement radially inwardly to the plunger 39 to effect the closing movement of the contact spring 46 into engagement with the terminals 21 of the article. While the article is held in its forward or operative position by the pusher mechanism 48, a latch 59 associated with the holder 36 is actuated to engage the article and hold it in this position. As the turret 35 is rotated, the contacts 46 and the articles 29 associated therewith are carried through a plurality of testing stations and are electrically connected to a plurality of testing circuits and the articles are subjected sequentially to various electrical tests. Y

An article 29, when it is defective and cannot pass a test applied'to it, is ejected at the end of that test by a cam 52 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) which actuates the latch l59 to release the article and permit the ejecting member 39 to eject the article radially outwardly from the holder and into a receiving chute 54 (Figs. 1 and 5). If the article passes the test applied to it, a solenoid 56 (Fig. '1) associated with the operative testing circuit is energized to move the cam 52 and render it inoperative and the article will continue its movement with the rotary table so that if the article is perfect or acceptable, it will be carried to an unloading station 60, where a stationary cam 62 (Figs. 12 and 13) actuates the latch to release the article and permit the plunger 39 to eject the article from the holder on the rotary table. At the unloading station, the articles are ejected radially onto Va rotating turn table 64, which serves to move the articles out of the path of successive articles and permits the operator to slide them onto a stationary unloading table 65, from whichthey are later removed.

More specifically, the rotary table or turret 35 comprises an annular disc or supporting ring 'i9 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8) positioned on top of a cylindrical drum portion 1| having an annular web or disc portionV 12 provided at its inner periphery with a hub 13. The hub 13 is fixed to a sleeve'14 (Figs. 2 and 5) rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 15, the sleeve 14 having a shoulder 1B engageable with the shoulder 11 on the shaft for supporting the sleeve 14 thereon. The shaft 15, at its lower end, is secured in a, supporting block 13 and, with the block 18, is fixed to a base plate or platform 19. The plate 19 is mounted on a plurality of longitudinal and transverse horizontal frame members 82, which, together with other horizontal and transverse frame members 83, are welded to a plurality of corner and intermediate vertical frame mgnbers 84, and constitute a skeleton framework of, the machine. Metal sheets applied to the framework form walls S5, which enclose substantially the entire machine. The reduced upper end of the shaft 15 is supported against movement by one end of a stabilizer arm or bracket 83 extending transversely from the upper end of a stabilizer column or post 81, which, at its lower end, is rigidly secured to the base 19.

Rotation is imparted to the rotary table 35 by a pair of belts (Figs. 1 and 2) encircling the drum 1| and connected to a drive pulley 9| operatively connected to a drive shaft 92 of a gear reducer 93. The gear reducer 93 is connected through a belt drive 94 to an electric motor 95, which, together with the reducer 93, is mounted on a bracket or platform 99 fixed to the post B1. The drive pulley 9| is slidably mounted on the shaft 92 and has a serrated clutch element |9| engageable with a complementary clutch element |92 secured to the drive shaft and is yieldingly held in operative engagement therewith by a spring |93. Thus, if an excessive load is applied to the drive pulley 9|, the drive pulley 9| may slow down or stop and be caused to move upwardly by thedrive clutch element |02, which upward movement of the drive pulley 9| serves to actuate a microswitch |94 to stop the motor 95.

The article holders 36 (Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8, 12 and 13) on the rotary table 35 are formed by a plurality cf elongated tapering blocks or members |93 secured to the upper surface of the supporting ring 19 and projecting radially outwardly from ,the outer peripheral edge thereof. VThe articles 29 are guided forradial movement and against lateral movement by the radially extending wall |91 on one side of the holder and the portion |98 of the latch and the end ofV a pin |93 extending laterally from the blocks |99 and lthroughapertures ein thelatches f5 0. L The outer upper iedge` of `the supporting; ring 'Ill between the spacedblocksfl'ltisainclined at IIll (Fig-8) .to facilitate theiinsertionlofthe 'article into -the holder `ttt. A reoessfis vformed in veach of the blocks |66 to provide clearance for pivot shafts ||2, tothe upper/ends of which one "end of .reach 'of the latches-5l) is secured. VThe outer ends of the :latches 50 f are -bent at 'right -f angles i to form shoulders or =ho0`fks II t3, which are engageable with the endsxof the articles 29 to -hold them in their operative j positionin the/holders.A -The shafts l| |`2 ;are journalled in apertures extending through :the ,plate 16 and `drum 'II and-:each Vshaft .has :fixed Ato rits lower 'lendf a cam follower comprising .an arm F|:-| 5 fsecuredat one end Yto the shaft and :atits otherA end rotatably gsupportinga roller :I|:6. lCompression fsp'rings |13, mounted in recessesfin the. bio cks |06, urge they latches rinto closed-position infengagement with the arti-cle.

The stationary ,cam :62, `which actuates the latches to'their released 'or open'position at the articleunloading'stati-on' Si), is formed on anannular member-:or cam ring |26 fix-ed 'to'.the .upper end of `a vdished'ainiular supporting'bracket I2 I secured tothe stationary shaft T5. The cam '62 "has :a Vsurface 'I2-2 concentric with the :axis .of

Atheshaft'15,'.an'd which-extends circumferentially -frorn'the ydischarge-or unloading lstation 60 toa zone Yand the articles are being loa-ded onto the turret. Adjacent'the'pusher mechanism 48, the

cam fsurface '|22 terminates and a roller |23 mounted-Ona bracket '|24 in the path of the cam Vfollower roller I6 serves to actuate the follower,

as it passes by,and move vthe latch to its closed position, where itis `effective to hold the arti-cle in its'f-orwardor operative position. The springs H8 act to retain the latches 56 in their closed position inengagement with the articles 29 and rollers H6 ofthe cam follower are positioned ad- Vjacentand substantially in engagement with an arcuate-camsurface concentric with the axis of the 'shaft which surface |25 serves to limit the inward Amovement. of the 'follower and the rotary movementof the-latch 56 when an article 29 is absent from the holder r36 during the rotation of the table 35.

The cam ring 4|2|1i also serves as a support for the lmovablecams 52 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) andthe solenoid cam actuators :56. The movable cams `5E, cylindrical in shape, are vertically movable in apertures formed in the cam ring |26 and are Y,

normally maintained in their upper o-roperative position inthe pathof movement ofthe-cam follower rollers `llbyvsprings |21 and are withdrawn downwardly to their inoperative Vposition in response to the-energiz-ation of the s-olenoid56 associated therewith. Thus, the cams 52, which extend radially'ou'twardly from th-e cam surface |25, serve, when in operative position, to alctuate the cam follower I'IS and move the latch -50 to .Thepusher mechanism 48 (Figs. 1, 6, l0 and ll) -for :pushing the articles radially `inwardly into'ltheir operative positionin engagement with vthe VContact.members t6 .and against the yielding pressure of Vthe .ejector 35 comprises a plurality of spaced pusher elements 'orrollers |29 rotatably 115 adjacent .-xture .units 4|. associated and .radiali-y valigned Ywith `an article vholder-andcontains twovsets of oontactmemmounted-:about their axeszon adisc |30 xe'd to the upper end of a shaft |3I, Which-isrotatably journalled in a bearing member |32. Thebearing 32 is .formed in a miountinggpla'te I 33,1whic-h is mounted `for `sliding movement on a supporting vplate 13:4 secured to y.a .pairfof 'spaced supportingbracketsl I 35 extend-ing from and fastened to the stationary :support If2I. Theplate |33 is guided -for limited yradial movement 'by ai pair of shouldered studs |31 positioned in radially extending guide slots "|38 in the Vsupporting plate |34. .'Asprocket |42 ,pinned to' the-shaft 'I3| vis connected-by a sprocket chain |43 to a sprocket |44, which, in turn, is keyed `to a shaft A| rrotatablymountedxin'a'bearing |46 formed on the supporting plate |34. A disc |41, keyed to the upper end'of theshaft |45, has a plurality of equally spaced radially disposed slots |48,-whilch are engageable zby drivegpins |49 extending downwardly in spaced relation 4to .each other from the underneath .surface-of the annular plate .-'IIJ of the rotarytable 35. Thus,'thepins |f49,.mov ing ywith the rotatable vtable 35, engage ,in the slots |48 of the disc Ifli'l and vimpart :rotation thereto which, in turn, through the chain drive, imparts rotation to the .disc |30 and pusher rollers |29. Thepusher 'elements'orrollers |29, being spaced equiangularlyabout andequidistant from ythe-axis of the rotation 'of the disc |f30,.en Agage :successive :articles and imove them radially inwardly on the turret .from their initial or .inoperative position -Ito :their inner .or operativep'ovsition against .theiyielding ,pressure ofthe ejecting membersl to eiecttheengagement 'of fthe terminals 21 with the electrical `contact members 46.

The 'disc |l3 0`-fo`f the-pusher -mechan'ism'lt Ais capable of llimited"movement outwardly to aocommodate articles of excessive length Yor other unusual conditions without damagingthe pushing mechanism '48 and the 'disc SI1/maybe yieldingly maintained `in its normal position -by any suitable mechanism. As shown herein (Figs. 1ll) and 1'1) the chain I 43 is engagedbyachaintightener sprocket "|50 rotatably mounted Aon a lever |35! intermediate its ends. At one end, the lever |51 is pivoted at v|52 'to the fixed supporting plate `v|34 4and vat its other fendthe lever |5I is connected to one 'end v`of a 'contractile spring I 53, the other end of which is 'adjustably'secured to a post 4I 5'4 on the supporting ,plate |34. Thus, this construction .yieldingly retains the chain |43 taut .about the drivesprockets |52 and Ille .and yielding'ly permits the radialmovement outwardly of the `shaft ISI. If desired, the pusher mechanism 48 may be substantially enclosed in ya housing vor cover plate |55.

vThe .fixtures 4| (Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 10) in which the `contact members 46 and the ejector members 39 are mounted and which-comprise yelongated tapering units nested together in annular form Aare secured -to Yan annular disc o-r supporting plate by screvvs|6| (Fig. 5) tting in aligned verticalgroovesin the diverging side walls of the -Each fixture v4| is bers 46 and ejector -plungers 39 arranged at .two..levels, .oneset in .superposed relation to the other. One set fof contacts-45 and ejector ,SS as, for example, Vthe upper one, .is Vadapted to .accommodate articles having studs 23, Vas "disrclosed .in Fig. `3, and the Aother vor` lower set of contacts and -ejector is adapted to lbe used .for

testing articles having end constructions as dis- Y closed in Fig. 4.

The supporting plate |60 and the fixtures 4| are vertically adjustable to rhorizontally align the upper or lower set of contacts and ejectors with the holders 36 and also to adjust the position of the contacts and the ejectors of each set vertically relative to the holders when used in testing articles of different thicknesses. A plurality of rods |63, fixed at one end to the plate |60, extend downwardly through apertures in the disc portion 12 of the rotatable table 35 and are secured at their lower ends to an annular plate or ring |64. The plate |64 rests on an annular anti-friction thrust member |66, slidably mounted for vertical movement on the sleeve 14 and supported on a plurality of thrust pins |61. The pins |61 are secured to and extend upwardly from an internally threaded nut |53 mounted in threaded engagement with an externally threaded sleeve |10, which, in turn, is mounted for rotation on the stationary shaft 15 and against axial movement. Formed on the lower end of the threaded sleeve is a worm Ygear |1|, which meshes with a worm |12 keyed te an operating shaft |13, which, in turn, extends forwardly from the machine through the front wall thereof and has an operating handle at its forward end. By turning the handle |15 in the proper direction, the threaded sleeve |10 is rotated and the nut |68 is moved vertically, which movement is transmitted, through the non-rotatable pin |61, to the thrust bearing |66, and from the thrust bearing |66 t0 the rotatable plate |64 and pins |63 to the rotatable supporting plate |60 and the xtures 4| to properly adjust either set of contacts 46 and ejectors 39 to the proper elevation relative to the articles 29 in the holders 36.

Each fixture 4| (Figs. 14 to 18) with its upper and lower compartments for the reception in each of one set of contacts and ejector members, comprises a housing formed in three sections secured in superposed relation by screws |83 and having upper, intermediate and lower horizontal wall portions |84, |85 and |86, respectively, and side walls ISH-|88. Guideways or slots |90 are formed in the side walls |88 for receiving and supporting ejecting plungers 39 for horizontal recprocable movement and recesses |9| are provided in the fixture for receiving a plurality of blocks of insulation |93 forming a wall for supporting the contact members 46. The ejecting plunger 39 is U-shaped and, as previously described, is normally urged radially outwardly by the compression spring interposed between the ejector 39 and the wall |93. The movement outwardly of the ejector 39 is limited by pins IE6-|96 engageable with the ends of slots |91|91 formed in the walls |38 of the fixture. The parallel spaced leg portions |99 ofthe U- shaped ejector plunger 39 are provided at their outer ends with seats 200 adapted to be engaged by portions of the articles 29.

In the lower set of ejectors (Fig. 17), the seats 200 are formed on the outer ends of the leg portions |99 and have angularly disposed guide surfaces 20| extending outwardly therefrom and are adapted to be engaged by the end portion of the article, which is positioned laterally on the seats by the inclined portions 20|. In the upper set of ejectors 39 (Figs. 13 and 15), the seats 200, formed by the notches in the leg portions |99, are spaced from the ends of the plunger ing from the article 29 of the type of construction shown in Fig. 3. The outer ends of the leg portions |99 are provided with inwardly directed inclined surfaces 202, which aid in guiding the studs 26 of the article into position on the seats 200.

To insure a positive contact between each of the studs 28 of the article and the plunger 39 in order to electrically ground each stud to the machine, one of the seats of the plunger is provided with a mechanism to compensate for a slight difference in length between the studs 28 of the article. The shoulder 203, forming one of the seats, is positioned a greater distance from the end of the ejector plunger 39 than the other seat and a movable abutment member, in the form of a ball-204, is mounted in a bore 205 in the leg |99 of the plunger and normally projects beyond thev shoulder 203. The abutment member 204, which is retained in the bore 205 by the converging side walls at the end of the bore, is

Yfastened to the intermediate or connecting portion of the U-shaped ejector by aV screw 209, the end of which projects beyond the ejector and serves as a guide pin for the compression spring 40. The contact members 46, four in number for each set, are in the form of elongated at spring members having inwardly directed end portions 2|0 engageable with the terminals 21 of the article 29. Rigidly supported at one end in the block |93 and disposed above and below the ejector 39, the contact members 46 are flexed for movement toward each other transversely to the direction of movement of the ejector member 42 and the article 29. Intermediatertheir ends, the contact springs 46 are provided with inclined offset or cam portions 2|| engageable with the inclinedportions of the cam members 41, and which portions 2|| cooperate with the cam 41 to move the contacts 46 ina substantially vertical direction away from each other to a spread or open position, in response to the Y movement of the ejector outwardly to its normal extended position.

In response to the inward movement of the ejector 39, the cam member 41 will disengage itself from the lcontact springs 46 and permit the springs 46 to move toward each other to a closed position in engagement with the terminals `21 on the article. Thus, when an article 29 positioned in the holder 36 on the turret 35 is moved horizontally from an inoperative position to an operative position by the pusher mechanism 48, it' moves the ejector plunger 39 radially inwardly from its normal extended position to its operative position and causes the contact springs 46 to move towards each other into engagement with the terminals 21, which are subsequently sequentially v electrically connected through the contacts 46 to the various testing circuits. The inward movement of the ejector 39 also further compresses the compression spring 40 so that, upon disengagement of the latch 50 from the article 29, the ejector 39 each pairofsuperposedsets-fof. contacts 46 are electrically' connected togetherby/conductors 2 I4 and byconductors 215#V they are` connected to brushes- 2151 mounted? in a cylindrical brush holder 2H; which, inturn, is secured' tov theY rotary sleeve 'ItY for rotation therewthir The brushes Z-I 6l are arrangedinrfour levelsy and thel brushes of' the di-ierent levels are connected-A toV the different ones of the*foursterminals-oieachset ofspring` contacts 465.5' The brushes 2115i, asi

theyrotate withthe-turreti; areadaptedto engage a-plurality ofystationary'commutatorfsegments 2I9- exten-ding outwardlyV from4 the f pe'-` riphery of a plurality; of annular: cer-nrnutatorv supporting discs 22-mounted-on asleeve`l 221i Xed to the stationaryfshaftl-'IELJ- Conductors-i223? connect the` commutator segments 2l Sito various testcircuits of ltheytes'tingequipment- 224; in-

cated in -the-upperportion of the machine-.-

The electrical 'circuits-1 which control the Asolenoids may be4v of anysuitable type capable-ofi supplying current to'ioperate.,:thesolenoida` but are preferably or the type shownin-l the copending applications ofY S.3E'. Frisbie-G: E? Weeks;V Serial Nos. 46,792,46i,!7'93,` and "46117941,I filedV August# 30,- 1948, the latter two 'y oifwhichapplications have sincel issuedas PatentsNes. 23507,'-565and' A- plurality -of tmicreswitc'zh'esl 228 (Figs: 1 -and 2) connected intoA -the-'-varic'n'1s-l test circuits ofthe' test-ing equipment-'224; are; actuated#by`- av plurality of circular( cams 229 :mounted -ior ro' tation with acam shaft A23i'lflto connect;- iin-co-A opera-tion with the'A brushes and commutator bevelled- 4g-ear', which meshes'l with =abevelled drivevgear 236 securedtothe end Vof vtherotatable sleeve 14.

As they:l arei carried along by the rotatable table 35, the articles 29 pass through a plurality of testing stations orjzones andare connected successively and for predetermined periods of time to the various testing apparatusand subjected to the various electricaltests to determine whether the values-ofcertain electrical characteristics of the articlesfall within or outside cffzan: acceptable range: As 'disclosed herein, the? apparatus applies o six. electrical tests. -to=the articles ,-land, as shownV in Figs. 1, i .six chutes .154 areshown for receivingthe articles ejected at the different stations. The angular distance or arcs between the ejecting chutes 54 indicate, generally, the extent of the last five test stations, the first test station extending a predetermined distance from the first chute toward the pusher mechanism 48.

During the initial portion of each breakdown test at each of the iirst three test stations, the article is connected through one commutator segment to one portion of a test circuit and is subjected to a predetermined voltage for a predetermined length of time, after Which it is con- I0 uected.; tofy anoti'ierv ccmniutator segment to ariothe'r portion-.ofithelltestrv circuit, which' is' setto pass orfacc'ept'th'e; article ifi the? Value of the electrical characteristic;v being tested falls within the predeterminedrange; Duringy the network resistance and capacitance tests at the fourth and fth .testl stations; respectively; .the article isA connecte'cls through commutator" segments to the respecti'e.' networki resistanceand capacitance :test l ci-rcuits'lwhieh areset topass or. accept-'thel arti'cl'elif thevalue of the electrical characteristic beingltsted falls `within the predetermined range.

Articlestsubr'nittd to insulation resistancetest atthedasttest-statienare-first subjected-to electricalcoriditi'oningby being connected to several sequential-groups ofi-coinm'iitatorsegments] serine ofapply -diierent voltagesvto the article beir'el it reache-s thelinsuiatieiir resistance test segment. The-`in'sulatieii-resistaneetest'segment connects the article to a circuit which is set toy pass-*orf accept the? article'if the' value of the' `#ch-araeterstics beingx'tested 'falls withiny the predetermined rang-e3 In'eaeh" test station", v at 'a point' whereth'eA article nears' the'end; of? its.y movement therein, there; isf-lorcated-:onef-'oii the cams 52wand'a solenoidj t; wh-chi's electrical1y1-connected 'into' the testing-'circuitassociated wi'th the lvstation. If the f valuesY or thefelectrical characteristic -off the article; being tested 'fa-ils, within the set minimum-4 maXi-rnumrange ofthe test equipment applying thetest, the*l solenoid` lfgis-energiz'edfto withdraw the;A cam 52andrender it.' inoperative and the 19417011 50i holding the; article; itsk operativek 'po'- -sition in -the holder-is notactuated 'at-this point to, rele-aser the articlef- Iffther value ofthe characteristicv of the; article-being-tested -falls below the 'm,-inimurrr or above thefmaximmn range of the setting-fof, thetesting apparatus ytesting the article 7the solencxideteremains1deenergized and the ycam 5 2- remainsfin itsl normal operative position and engages the vrcam ffollower I I 5 tov actuate the latch vStrand?dirlgage fit-from* the article-thus; releasing thearti-cle 'and causing its ej ection.*from` the 'holder 38.4

In-4 radia l alignment#with-` the movable cam members 52 and the-solenoid, in each test sta# tion, theopen endsof receiving tubes or chutes 54 are positioned to receive fthef ejected arti-cles and 'guide them-V. into receptacles 2 38'.` The receptacles 23ev are in the form oirrectangular boxes or drawers slidablyesupported y on guide members and removable fromthe Amachinethroughopeningsin thewalls thereof. The rejected or imperfeet articles 29,-areN thus sortedrinto l.groups lacc-ordingfto their defects and theA goodforY acceptable articlesare carried bythe rotatable table 35s to the vunloading..sta-tion 60', where, as vpre-- vious'ly mentioned, 'the` stationary. cam -62 actuatesthe latches 50"to -releasethe articles 29, Whi'c'h are th'erebyl'ejectd ont-o the continuously Irotating.turritable (i4. The-turn YtableY 64 is mounted `on a shaft 249 of an electric motor 24|, which is supported by a pair of brackets 242 xed to the underneath side of the unloading table 38. The ejected articles are carried by the turn table into engagement with a vertical wall 2184 extending upwardly from the unloading table 65 and from one edge 0f the loading table 3e and forming a partition or ba-rrier therebetween to prevent the articles from being moved accidentally from the loading table onto the unload-ing table. The turn table 64 and the unloading table $5 are located at a lower elevation 11 with respect to the loading table 35, a portion of which overlies a portion of the turn table. The loading table 3S and the unloading table 65 are formed in the upper part of a forwardly projecting console portion 245 of the machine (Figs.

1 and 2.

The general features of construction Yand the xture construction of this apparatus are not claimed herein and form the subject matter of separate -applications of S. V. Smith, Serial Nos. 45,385 and 45,387, being filed concurrently herewith, now Patent Numbers 2,567,741 and 2,488,609 respectively.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous otherV arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the a-rt which will embody the principles of the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for testing condensers having flexible terminals extending from one end thereof, the combination of :a rotatable carrier having a plurality of holders for supporting the condensers for movement therewith through a predetermined path and for radial movement relative to the carrier, contact members for each of said holders connectible to condenser testing circuits and mounted for movement transversely of the radial movement of said condenser` and actuated to and from an open position and a closed position in which closed position the contact members are engageable with the terminals on a condenser placed in the path of said contact members, an actuating member movable to and from operative and inoperative positions for actuating said contact members, spring means for moving said actuating member in toy said inoperative position to actuate said contacts to open position, said actuating member being engageable by a condenser in said holder and movable to operative position to actuate said contacts to closed position in response to a predetermined radial movement of the condenser, a loading station for the placing of the condensers in said holders in engagement with the actuating members and With the terminals of the condensers in the path of movement of the contact members, a rotatable member adjacent the carrier and the loading station and having spaced pusher elements thereon engageable With the ends of the condensers and movable in a circular path toward and away from the carrier, means for rotating the carrier and the rotatable member in timed relation to cause the pusher elements to move the condensers and the actuating members radially inwardly through a predetermined distance to an inner position to eifect the movement of the contacts into engagement with the condenser terminals, a latch member for each holder stressed for movement to a normally closed position for holding a condenser in said inner position, cam means for holding the latch members in open position during movement of the holders through said loading station to permit the loading of condensers into the holders, and means for actuating the latch members to release the condensers from said inner position.

2. In an apparatus for testing condensers having flexible terminals extending from'one end thereof, the combination of a carrier` having a plurality of holders for supporting the condensers for movement therewith in a first direction through a predetermined path and for movement relative to the holders in a second direction transversely of said rst direction, contact members for each of said holders connectible to condenser testing circuits and mounted for movement transversely of the movement of said condenser in said second directionand actuated to and froman open position in spaced relation torterminals on a condenser placed in the path of said contact members and a closed position in engagement with the terminals of said condenser so placed, an actuating member movable to and from operative and inoperative positions for actuating said contact members, resilient means for moving said actuating member to and yieldably holding said member in said inoperative position to actuate said contacts to open position, said actuating member being engageable by a condenser in said holder and movable to said operative position to actuate said contacts to closed position in response to a predetermined movement of the condenser in said second direction, a loading station for the placing of the condensers in the holders in engagement with the actuating members and with the terminals of the condensers in the path of movement of the contact members, a rotatable member adjacent the carrier and the loading station and having spaced pusher elements thereon engageable with the ends of the condensers and movable in a circular path toward and av/ay from said carrier, means Vfor rotating the rotatable member in timed relation to the movement of the carrier to cause the pusher elements to push the condensers and the actuating members inwardly a predetermined distance to an inner position to effect the movement of the contacts into engagement With the condenser terminals, means for latching the condensers in said inner position, and means for tripping said latching means to effect the movement of said contact members to open position.

SCOTT -V. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,808,301 Ferguson June 2, 1931 1,955,794 Du Mont Apr. 24, 1934 2,317,559 Stout Apr. 27, 1943 2,456,548 Weiner Dec. 14, 1948 

